Television having a connecting terminal for connecting a player device

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a television that includes a speaker; a display; a tuner for receiving television broadcasting signals and generates first sound signals and first image signals based on the television broadcasting signals; a connecting terminal for connecting to a player device having an operation panel generating operation commands according to user&#39;s operations; an operation macro outputting unit for outputting an operation macro same as a plurality of the operation commands to the player device in order to make the player device perform consecutive operations, through the connecting terminal.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to the Japan Patent Application No.2007-252123, filed Sep. 27, 2007, the entire disclosure of which isexpressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates television that has a function forconnecting to a media player.

(2) Description of the Related Art

Currently, media players that can play sounds and images, becomepopular. Media players are devices that can play specific contents(media files). As an example of the media players, iPod™ provided byApple Inc. is well known. The media players have functions to playspecific media files in their portable and small chassis. Such the mediaplayers can transmit sounds, images and data to external devices thatare connected to the media players. Some of the media players cancooperate with the external devices. And, not only in the media player,some technologies to cooperate with the external devices are suggested(see JPA-H11-275503 and JPA-2006-111252) According to JPA-H11-275503, atelevision that can connect to a PC card, a data recording medium and aserial cable, automatically input data from them and play the data, isdisclosed. Further, in JPA-2006-111252, a car audio system output asignal to make the media player play the media file when the mediaplayer is connected thereto.

The television disclosed in JPA-H11-275503 has a problem that it is notpossible to take advantage of an plying function of the media player toplay the data, because the data are played by the television itself.Recently, the media players can store a lot of the media files becauseof spread of mass storage devices. Further, the media players havecomplicated functions and complicated operations are needed to use thefunctions. Therefore, the car audio system disclosed in JPA-2006-111252can not make the media player perform the complicated operations thatusers want to perform.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a television that includes a speaker; adisplay; a tuner for receiving television broadcasting signals andgenerates first sound signals and first image signals based on thetelevision broadcasting signals; a connecting terminal for connecting toa player device having an operation panel generating operation commandsaccording to user's operations; an operation macro outputting unit foroutputting an operation macro same as a plurality of the operationcommands to the player device in order to make the player device performconsecutive operations, through the connecting terminal.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription of preferred non-limiting exemplary embodiments, takentogether with the drawings and the claims that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It is to be understood that the drawings are to be used for the purposesof exemplary illustration only and the drawings are to be used not as adefinition of the limits of the invention. Throughout the disclosure,the word “exemplary” is used exclusively to mean “serving as an example,instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described as “exemplary” isnot necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over otherembodiments.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary block diagram showing a configuration of atelevision having a function for connecting to a media player.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary perspective view showing an appearance of thetelevision.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram showing a configuration of themedia player.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart of a connecting process performed whenthe media player is connected to the television.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram showing a channel map.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram showing a dummy image.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram showing an operation panel andhierarchical operation menus.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary flowchart of a monitoring charging process.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary flowchart of a playing state monitoring process.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary flowchart of a monitoring remote controloperation process.

FIG. 11 is an exemplary flowchart of a process performed when the mediaplayer is detached from the television.

FIG. 12 is an exemplary diagram explaining a state when channel up-downoperation is done.

FIG. 13 is an exemplary flowchart of the connecting process of amodified embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an exemplary diagram showing the dummy image of the modifiedembodiment.

FIG. 15 is an exemplary flowchart of charge setting process of themodified embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an exemplary diagram of a UI image for the charge setting.

FIG. 17 is an exemplary flowchart of the monitoring charging process ofthe modified embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an exemplary diagram showing a UI image of the modifiedembodiment.

FIG. 19 is an exemplary perspective view showing the appearance of thetelevision of the modified embodiment.

FIG. 20 is an exemplary perspective view showing the appearance of thetelevision of the modified embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodimentsof the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms inwhich the present invention may be constructed and or utilized.

The embodiment of the present invention will be explained as an orderdescribed below.

-   A. A configuration of a television having a function for connection    to a media player:-   B. A process performed when the media player is connected:-   C. A process performed after the media player is connected:-   D. A process performed when the media player is disconnected:-   E. Modified embodiments:

E-1. The modified embodiment of the dummy image:

E-2. A power saving operation:

E-3. The modified embodiment of charging:

E-4. The modified embodiment of an operation macro:

E-5. The modified embodiment of a connection:

A. A Configuration of a Television having a Function for Connection to aMedia Player

FIG. 1 is an exemplary block diagram showing a configuration of atelevision, of the present invention, having a function for connectingto a media player. The television 10 is comprised of a microcomputer 11,a tuner 12, an image processing circuit 13, a sound processing circuit14, an input terminal 15, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) module 16, adocking unit 17, a remote control receiver 18, a bus 19, a speaker 20, apower circuit 21, a switching circuit (switching unit) 22 and anexternal input terminal 23. Components 11-18 are connected through thebus 19 each other and can mutually transmit data each other. Further thecomponents 11-20 are connected to the power circuit 21 and are suppliedelectric power from the power circuit 21. The power circuit 21 cansupply a standby power for functioning at least a timer of themicrocomputer 11 e.g. and an ordinary main power. The microcomputer 11is comprised of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 a, RAM (Random AccessMemory) 11 b and ROM (Read Only Memory) 11 c. The CPU 11 a executescomputing for performing processes described below, with complying witha program code stored in the ROM 11 c. Then, data and parameters thatare needed for the computing, are buffered in the RAM 11 b.

The tuner 12 has an antenna terminal 12 a. The tuner 12 extracts digitaltelevision signals with a frequency corresponding to a desiredbroadcasting channel, from signals input through the antenna terminal 12a. The tuner 12 performs detecting, de-multiplexing and extracting thedigital television signals. And the tuner 12 generates image signals andsound signals. The image signals (first image signals) generated by thetuner 12 are output to the image processing circuit 13. The soundsignals (first sound signals) generated by the tuner 12 are output tothe sound processing circuit 14. In addition, frequency information fortuner 12 to synthesize and multiplexing information are obtained from achannel map CM stored in the ROM 11 c. A writable media is applied asthe ROM 11 c, because the channel map has to be updated corresponding touser's favorites and broadcasting condition. The switching circuit 22,for example, connected with the external input terminal 23 such as anS-type terminal (i.e. Separate video or S-Video terminal) or a D1-typeterminal e.g. And the switching circuit 22 can switch to output imagesignals and sound signals received through the external input terminal23 into the image processing circuit 13 and the sound processing circuit14.

The image processing circuit 13 performs image modification (forexample, brightness adjustments and contrast adjustments e.g.)processing to the image signals input from the tuner 12 and the externalinput terminal 23. Further, image processing circuit 13 performsprocessing for interposing and replacing OSD (On Screen Display) signalsreceived from the microcomputer 12 to the image signals input from thetuner 12. On the other hand, a sound volume and balance e.g. of thesound signals output to the sound processing circuit 14 are adjusted bythe sound processing circuit 14. The image signals modified by the imageprocessing circuit 13 is output to the LCD module 16, and each of liquidcrystal elements of an LCD panel 16 a built in the LCD module 16 isdriven based on the image signals.

A back light 16 b is placed behind the LCD panel 16 a. And lighting ofthe back light 16 b is controlled by an inverter circuit 16 d. Imagescan be displayed, because light emitted by the back light 16 b istransmitted and polarized through the LCD panel 16 a whose liquidcrystal elements are driven based on the image signals. On the otherhand, the sound signals output from the sound processing circuit 14 areinput to the speaker 20 and are output from the speaker 20. The remotecontrol receiver 18 has a photo diode that can receive pulses ofinfrared output from an external remote control and convert the pulsesof infrared to electric signals. The remote control receiver 18 convertsthe electric signals to a predetermined format and output the electricsignals (operation commands) to the microcomputer 11.

The docking unit 17 (signal accepting unit) is an interface between thetelevision 10 and the external media player. The docking unit 17 iscomprised of a signal adjustment circuit 17 a, a charging circuit 17 b,a charging switch 17 c and a connecting terminal unit 17 d. Theconnecting terminal unit 17 d is comprised of terminals for connectingthe media player and the docking unit 17. More concretely, theconnecting terminal unit 17 d is comprised of a terminal fortransmitting the sound signals and the image signals from the mediaplayer to the television, a terminal for supplying the electric powerform the television to the media player and a terminal for mutuallytransmitting control signals between the media player and thetelevision, for example, through a serial data communication.

The signal adjustment circuit 17 a adjusts the sound signals and theimage signals input from the media player, and outputs the sound signalsand the image signals to the image processing circuit 13 and the soundprocessing circuit 14 through the switching circuit 22. Here, the signaladjustment circuit 17 a detects the sound signals and the image signals,and converts image resolutions of the image signals to be suitable fordisplaying at the television 10. The sound signals and the image signalsoutput from the signal adjustment circuit 17 a are input to theswitching circuit 22. The switching circuit 22 switches whether thesound signals and the image signals are output to next circuits or notbased on an instruction from the microcomputer 11. The charging circuit17 b is supplied the electric power from the power circuit 21, andcharges a battery of the media player with generating an electric powerthat is suitable for charging the battery of the media player. Thecharging switch 17 c is a mechanical switch and can switch whether thecharging circuit 17 b performs charging the battery or the chargingcircuit 17 b does not performs charging the battery, based on user'soperation.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary perspective view of appearances of the television10 and the media player. The media player is corresponding to a playerdevice of the present invention. According to FIG. 2, the television 10has the LCD panel 16 a in a substantial thin plane shape standingsubstantially vertically. Abovementioned circuits are placed behind theLCD panel 16 a. The television 10 has a foot part 24. The foot part iscomprised of a base part 24 a in a substantial plane shape that canwidely contact with a horizontal plane, and a brace 24 b that issubstantially vertically extended from the base part 24 a and is coupledto the LCD panel 16 a. A hollow portion 24 c where a bottom edge of themedia player 50 can be inserted, is formed by making a hollow downwardfrom an upper plane of the base part 24 a. The media player 50 issupported to be vertical by fitting together by inserting the bottomedge of the media player 50 into the hollow portion 24 c. Then, forpreventing a top edge of the media player 50 from conflicting to abottom edge of the LCD panel 16 a, the hollow part 24 c is formed at aposition forward to the LCD panel 16 a. An I/O (Input/Output) terminalunit 59 (not illustrated) is formed in the bottom edge of the mediaplayer 50, and abovementioned connecting terminal unit 17 d is formed inthe hollow portion 24 c.

The I/O terminal unit 59 and the connecting terminal unit 17 d areformed at corresponding position each other, therefore the I/O terminalunit 59 and the connecting terminal unit 17 d can electrically connectwhen the bottom edge of the media player 50 is inserted into the hollowportion 24 c. Accordingly, the image signals and the sound signals canbe transmitted from the media player 50 to the docking unit 17, throughthe I/O terminal unit 59 and the connecting terminal unit 17 d. Also,the electric power can be supplied from the television 10 to the mediaplayer 50, and the control signals can be mutually transmitted betweenthe television 10 and the media player 50. The charging switch 17 c isformed at a position where is on the upper plane of the base part 24 aand is adjacent to the hollow portion 24 c. The charging switch 17 c canbe slid. If users slide the charging switch 17 c to an on-sidedirection, the charging of the media player 50 is turned on. And ifusers slide the charging switch 17 to an off-side direction (opposite tothe on-side direction); the charging of the media player 50 is turnedoff. In particular, connection and disconnection of a power supply lineconnecting the charging circuit 17 b and the connecting terminal unit 17d are switched.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram of the media player 50. Asillustrated, the media player 50 is comprised of a CPU 51 a, a RAM 51 b,a HDD (hard disk drive) 51 d, a video decoder 52, an LCD display 53, abattery 54, a sound output unit 55, a bus 56, an operation panel 57, animage output circuit 58 and the I/O terminal unit 59. The CPU 51 aperforms an O/S (Operating System) and application programs to realizefunctions of the media player 50, with extracting program data read fromthe ROM 51 c on the RAM 51 b. The HDD (storing unit) 51 d stores eachkind of media files and image files complying with a file system adoptedby the OS.

In particular, the HDD (storing unit) 51 d stores video files wherebysounds and motion-images can be played, sound files whereby sounds canbe played, picture files whereby still-images can be played, and so on.The O/S can distinguish kinds of these media files by extensions of filenames of these media files and headers appended to these media files.The video decoder 52 is provided as an ASIC (Application SpecificIntegrated Circuits), because complicated extracting processes areespecially needed to play the video files. The LCD display 53 displaysUI (User Interface) images output by the application programs performedby the CPU 51, the motion-images decoded by the video decoder 52 and thestill-images.

For example, the battery 54 is comprised of lithium-ion cells. Thebattery 54 can be charged by supplying external electric powers and cansupply electric powers to each components of the media player 50. Thesound output unit 55 is comprised of an amp, a headphones terminal andso on, and outputs sound with a predetermined volume to the headphones.The operation panel 57 is comprised of buttons to manipulate complyingwith the UI images, for operating the media player 50. The I/O terminalunit 59 inputs the image signals from the image output circuit 58 andinputs the sound signals from the sound output unit 55. And, the I/Oterminal unit 59 is connected to the battery 54. Therefore, the electricpower input from the television 10 to the I/O terminal unit 59, can besupplied to the battery 54 as an electric source for charging. Further,the I/O terminal unit 59 can communicate data to the applicationprograms performed by the CPU 51 a, because the I/O terminal unit 59 isconnected to the CPU 51 a through the bus 56.

B. A Process Performed when the Media Player is Connected

FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart of a connecting process performed whenthe media player 50 is connected to the television 10. The processillustrated in FIG. 4 is a process that is mainly performed by themicrocomputer 11 of the television 10 when the bottom edge of the mediaplayer 50 is inserted into the hollow portion 24 c. First, themicrocomputer 11 waits and detects the insertion of the bottom edge ofthe media player 50 into the hollow portion 24 c in step S100. Then thetelevision 10 have to be supplied at least the standby power, becausethe television 10 needs small electric power to detect the insertion ofthe bottom edge of the media player 50. As a concrete method fordetecting the insertion of the bottom edge of the media player 50 intothe hollow portion 24 c (connection detecting unit), for example, amethod detecting a change of resistance of the connecting terminal unit17 d that is affected by an electrical connection between the connectingterminal unit 17 d and the I/O terminal unit 59 of the media player 50,can be applied. Further, a method using a mechanical switch operated byinserting the bottom edge of the media player 50 into the hollow portion24 c, can be also applied.

In case the microcomputer 11 detects the insertion of the bottom edge ofthe media player 50, the microcomputer 11 instruct for the chargingcircuit 17 b to generate an electric power for charging the battery 54of the media player 50 in step S110 (charging unit). Here, if thecharging switch 17 c is slid to the off-side direction, the power supplyline for connecting the charging circuit 17 b and the connectingterminal unit 17 d is disconnected. Therefore, the battery 54 is notcharged, when the charging switch 17 c is slid to the off-side direction(charging restriction unit). On the other hand, if the charging switch17 c is slid to the on-side direction, the power supply line forconnecting the charging circuit 17 b and the connecting terminal unit 17d is connected. Therefore, the battery 54 is charged, when the chargingswitch 17 c is slid to the on-side direction. That is, users can selectwhether to perform to charge the battery or not when the media player 50is connected to the television 10, by manipulating the charging switch17 c. Therefore, unintentional and vain power consumption can beprevented.

In step S120, the microcomputer 11 acquires the channel map CM recordedin the ROM 11 c and updates the channel map CM. The microcomputer 11performs a process to rewrite the updated channel map CM in the ROM 11c. FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram showing the channel map CM. AccordingFIG. 5, a normal mode and an external input mode are defined in thechannel map CM. The tuner 12 is defined as an input source of soundsignals and image signals corresponding to each of the channels of thenormal mode. Further, in the normal mode, the frequencies of thetelevision broadcasting that the tuner 12 should receive correspondingto each of channels are also defined. On the other hand, the externalinput terminal 23 and the docking unit 17 e.g. are defined as the inputsources of sound signals and image signals corresponding to each of thechannels of the external input mode.

For example, the input terminal 23 is corresponding to the input sourceof sound signals and image signals of a video 1 mode as one of thechannels of the external input mode. And, a media player mode α (firstplayer device mode) and a media player mode β (second player devicemode) can be defined as two of the channels of the external input mode.The docking unit 17 is corresponding to the input source of soundsignals and image signals of the media player mode α. On the other hand,the docking unit 17 is corresponding to the input source of soundsignals of the media player mode β and the OSD signals generated by themicrocomputer 11 is corresponding to the input source of image signalsof the media player-mode β. For example, the channel map CM is updatedin a predetermined time period and the channel map CM is updated byperforming an auto-preset by users.

The microcomputer 11 accepts a selection of one of the channels of thenormal mode or the external input mode listed in the channel map CMthrough the remote control receiver 18. In addition, disabling flags(illustrated as circular solid dots) can be appended to the channels.The channels that the disabling flags are appended, can not be selected.In case, the microcomputer 11 accepts the selection of one of thechannels, a current flag (illustrated as a circular double outline dot)is appended to the channel selected in the channel map CM. Themicrocomputer 11 makes the switching circuit 22 switch to the inputsources corresponding to the channel selected. Further, if one of thechannels of the normal mode is selected, the microcomputer 11 instructsfor the tuner 12 to tune to the frequency corresponding to the channelselected. Then, the microcomputer 11 append a last flag (illustrated asa triangular outline dot) to the channel of the normal mode that isselected at the last time in the channel map CM.

In step S120, the microcomputer 11 performs a process to add the mediaplayer mode α and the media player mode β as two of the channels of theexternal input modes in the channel map CM. That is, the disabling flagsare appended to the media player mode α and the media player mode βbefore step S120, the media player mode α and the media player mode βare substantially added to the channel map CM as effective channels byremoving the disabling flags in step S120. By adding the media playermode α and the media player mode β to the channel map CM as mentionedabove, the media player mode α and the media player mode β can beselected by channel up-down operations e.g. Of course, channels andmodes that are not defined in the channel map CM can not be selected bythe remote control's operations e.g.

Next, the microcomputer 11 detects a current power mode of thetelevision 10 in step S130. Here, in case the microcomputer 11 detectsthat the current power mode of the television 10 is a standby mode, themicrocomputer 11 make the power circuit 21 supply a main power to thetelevision 10 for switching to a normal mode in step S140. On the otherhand, the microcomputer 11 detects that the current power mode of thetelevision 10 is the normal mode, the microcomputer 11 make the powercircuit 21 keep to supply the main power the television 10 for keepingthe normal mode.

Next, the microcomputer 11 judges whether the media player 50 iscurrently playing any media files in step S150. That is, themicrocomputer 11 detects whether the media player 50 is inserted intothe hollow portion 24 c with playing any media files. Here, in case themicrocomputer 11 detects that the media player 50 is currently playingany media file, the microcomputer 11 detects what types of the mediafiles is currently played by the media player 50. That is, three kindsof playing states (illustrated as playing states from A to C) describedbelow, are detects by the microcomputer 11 in step S150 and S160.

A: None of the media files is played.

B: A media file (files) including sounds and images is (are) played.

C: A media file including only sounds is played.

In addition, users can generally make a setting to select whether toallow the media player 50 to output the sound signals and the imagesignals to the I/O terminal unit 59. In the present embodiment, themedia player 50 is allowed to output the sound signals and the imagesignals played by the media player 50 to the I/O terminal unit 59without modification. Methods described below can be applied as methodsfor detecting in which playing states from A to C the media player 50is, in step S160. For example, if the O/S or the application programexecuted by the CPU 51 a of the media player 50, has a function toreturn property data of the media files currently played in response toa request from the microcomputer 11, the microcomputer 11 can detect inwhich playing states of the media player 50 is, based on the propertydata.

Further, the microcomputer 11 can detect in which playing states themedia player 50 is, by detecting signal or electrical conditions at theconnecting terminal unit 17 d (or the I/O terminal unit 59) where thesound signals and image signals are input. For example, themicrocomputer 11 can judge whether the image signals is output bydetecting synchronization signals included in the image signals.Further, supplemental terminals for notifying existences of the soundsignals and image signals can be provided in the connecting terminalunit 17 d (or the I/O terminal unit 59) in order to judge whether thesound signals and image signals are output. In addition, it can beassumed that image signals for displaying an UI image for playing themedia files are output through the connecting terminal unit 17 d (andthe I/O terminal unit 59), even if the media player 50 is playing themedia file including only the sound signals. In this instance, theplaying state B and C can not be distinguished based on the signal orelectrical conditions at the connecting terminal unit 17 d (or the I/Oterminal unit 59). However, the playing states B and C can bedistinguished based on, for example, waveforms or an amount ofinformation (e.g. bit-rates) of the image signals, because the UI imagehave little motion and is limited to some patterns.

In case the microcomputer 11 detects that the media player 50 is in theplaying state B in step S160, the microcomputer 11 switches thetelevision 10 to perform the media player mode α in step S170. In themedia player mode α, the signal adjustment circuit 17 a of the dockingunit 17 is activated in order to adjust the sound signals and imagesignals input through the connecting terminal unit 17 d, and the soundsignals and image signals adjusted by the signal adjustment circuit 17 aare input to the image processing circuit 13 and the sound processingcircuit 14 by switching the switching circuit 22. Therefore, the soundsignals and image signals currently output by the media player 50 can beoutput from the speaker 20 and the LCD panel 16 a of the television 10.In addition, the microcomputer 11 can switch to the media player mode α,because the media player mode α is made effective in the channel map CMin step S120.

As described above, in case the microcomputer 11 detects that the mediaplayer 50 is in the playing state B, the sound signals and image signalscurrently output by the media player 50 can be output to the television10 through the connecting terminal unit 17 d (and the I/O terminal unit59). Therefore, the sound signals and image signals can be output fromthe speaker 20 and the LCD panel 16 a of the television 10. For example,in case the media player 50 is playing a news video with sounds, thespeaker 20 and the LCD panel 16 a output sounds and images of the news.As described above, the television 10 can be automatically switched toperform the media player mode α when the media player 50 is connected tothe television 10, therefore users can continuously watch and listen theimages and sounds by the television 10, the images and sounds are usedto be played by the media player 50.

On the other hand, in case the microcomputer 11 detects that the mediaplayer 50 is in the playing state C in step S160, the microcomputer 11switches the television 10 to perform the media player mode β in stepS180. In the media player mode β, the signal adjustment circuit 17 a isactivated in order to adjust the sound signals input through theconnecting terminal unit 17 d, and only the sound signals adjusted bythe signal adjustment circuit 17 a are input to the sound processingcircuit 14 by switching the switching circuit 22. Further, in the mediaplayer mode β, the image signals is input from the microcomputer 10 tothe image processing circuit 13 by switching the switching circuit 22.And, in the media player mode β, the microcomputer 10 generate the OSDsignals and the OSD signals are output to the image processing circuit13. Accordingly, the OSD signals are displayed in the LCD panel 16 a. Inaddition, the microcomputer 11 can switch to the media player mode β,because the media player mode β is made effective in the channel map CMin step S120.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram showing a dummy image displayed in theLCD panel 16 a according to the OSD signals. In FIG. 6, messagesindicating that the media player mode is currently activated and onlysounds are currently output. By displaying such the dummy image, it canbe possible to let users recognize a current status of the television10. The media player mode β can prevent the television 10 fromdisplaying a random noise image and a solid color image even when themedia player 50 output no image signals. Accordingly, users can notfalsely recognize that the television 10 is broken down. On the otherhand, the sounds can be output from the speaker 20 of the television 10as the media player 50 is playing, therefore users can listen to thesounds played by the media player 50 from the speaker 20.

In case the microcomputer 11 detects that the media player 50 is in theplaying state A in step S150, it can be understood that neither thesound signals nor the image signals are input to the connecting terminalunit 17 d (and the I/O terminal unit 59), because, for example, themedia player 50 is currently turned off. In step S190, the microcomputer11 generates a predetermined operation commands and transmits theoperation commands to the CPU 51 a of the media player 50 through theconnecting terminal unit 17 d (and the I/O terminal unit 59), in orderto make the media player 50 be able to play the media files. By the way,the media player 50 is detecting user's operations by the operationpanel 57, and the operation panel 57 generates (encodes) operationcommands based on the user's operations and the operation commands areaccepted by the application program executed by the CPU 51 a of themedia player 50. And, in response to the operation commands, the CPU 51a executes processes complying with the application program. Therefore,the media player 50 can perform operations requested by users.

In step S190, the microcomputer 11 generates the predeterminedconsecutive operation commands and transmits the predeterminedconsecutive operation commands to the CPU 51 a of the media player 50.The microcomputer 11 generates the operation commands same as theoperation commands that the application program executed by the CPU 51 aaccepts from the operation panel 57. Here, the microcomputer 11generates the operation commands same as the operation commandsgenerated by the operation panel 57 in response to the user'sconsecutive operations from [1] to [6] as described below. And themicrocomputer 11 (operation macro outputting unit, command outputtingunit) transmits the operation commands to the CPU 51 a of the mediaplayer 50 through the connecting terminal unit 17 d (and the I/Oterminal unit 59).

-   -   [1] M button→[2] D button→[3] D button→    -   [4] D button→[5] R button→[6] P button

FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram showing the operation panel 57 of themedia player 50 and an operation menus (structure) of the applicationprogram of the media player 50. In FIG. 7, each of the operation menusis comprised of some items and a main menu is provided as a top class ofthe operation menus. Each of items (media files) of the operation menuscan be selected by operating the operation panel 57. The operation panel57 is comprised on an M button for returning to the main menu, an Ubutton for moving to upper items in a same class of the operation menus,a D button for moving to lower items in the same class of the operationmenus, an L button for returning to upper (illustrated in left handside) class of the operation menus, an R button for moving to lower(illustrated in right hand side) class of the operation menus, and a Pbutton for determining (playing) a selected item (media file). In case,the CPU 51 a of the media player 50 receive the operation commandscorresponding to the consecutive operations from [1] to [6], first, an“AUDIO” folder that is a top item of the main menu is selected by thecommand corresponding to the operation [1]. In addition, if the mediaplayer 50 has been turned off, the media player 50 is turned on by thecommand corresponding to the operation [1]. Next, a “PODCAST” folder isselected by moving downward three times in the main menu according tothe commands corresponding to the operations from [2] to [4]. And, a“NEW ARRIVAL” folder that is a top item of the “PODCAST” folder isselected by the command corresponding to the operation [5]. In a statethat the “NEW ARRIVAL” folder that is selected, the media filesbelonging to the “NEW ARRIVAL” folder are played by the commandcorresponding to the operation [6].

Here, the “NEW ARRIVAL” folder is a folder wherein the media files thatare recorded in the HDD 51 d after the media player 50 was used the lasttime, are temporarily stored. For example, the “NEW ARRIVAL” folder isthe folder wherein the media files that are transmitted into the HDD 51d from an external computer connected to the media player 50 in aUSB[Universal serial bus] mass storage mode after finishing using themedia player 50, are temporarily stored.

And, recently, RSS[Resource Description Framework Site Summary] feedsfor downloading the media files regularly or irregularly uploaded inexternal severs in the internet, become widely used. Further, the newarrived media files downloaded to the computer by the RSS feeds aretransmitted to the media player and stored in the “NEW ARRIVAL” folder.In addition, it is not necessary to store the new arrived media files ina physical “NEW ARRIVAL” folder. For example, the new arrived mediafiles can be presumed to be stored in a virtual “NEW ARRIVAL” folder byappending flags indicating new arrival to each of the new arrived mediafiles. In addition, not only the media files including sounds andimages, but also the media files including only sounds can be downloadedby the RSS feeds. The media files including sounds and images, and themedia files including only sounds may coexist in the “NEW ARRIVAL”folder in the present embodiment.

The microcomputer 11 of the television 10 can make the media player 50perform consecutive operations originally requiring complicatedmanipulations for the operation panel 57 by consecutively generating andconsecutively transmitting the commands corresponding to the operationsfrom [1] to [6]. These operations of the media player 50 arecorresponding to a combination of the plurality of the manipulations forthe operation panel 57 and the commands corresponding to the operationsfrom [1] to [6] can be considered as an operation macro. Transmittingtiming for each of the commands corresponding to the operations from [1]to [6] is complying with an order from [1] to [6], in case a nextcommand can not be accepted before a operation according to a previouscommand have finished (for example, the CPU 51 a becomes a busy state.),it is preferable that the next command is transmitted after waiting tofinish the operation according to the previous command.

Similarly to step S150, the microcomputer 11 judges whether the mediaplayer 50 is currently playing any media files in step S200. Here, incase the microcomputer 11 detects that the media player 50 is playingnothing, it can be detects that the “NEW ARRIVAL” folder is vacant.Therefore, the microcomputer 11 determines that there is no media fileto be played and the microcomputer 11 finishes the process. On the otherhand, in case the microcomputer 11 detects that the media player 50 isplaying any of the media files, the microcomputer 11 returns to stepS160 and the microcomputer 11 detects what types of the media files iscurrently played by the media player 50 (the microcomputer 11 detects inwhich playing states B or C the media player 50 is). In case themicrocomputer 11 detects that the media player 50 is playing the mediafiles including the sounds and the images, the microcomputer 11 switchesthe television 10 to perform the media player mode a in step S170.Therefore, the sound signals and image signals currently output by themedia player 50 can be appreciated through the speaker 20 and the LCDpanel 16 a of the television 10. On the other hand, in case themicrocomputer 11 detects that the media player 50 is playing the mediafiles only including the sounds, the microcomputer 11 switches thetelevision 10 to perform the media player mode β in step S180.Therefore, the sound signals from the media player 50 are output fromthe speaker 20 and the dummy image generated by the microcomputer 11 isdisplayed on the LCD panel 16 a. The media files including sounds andimages, and the media files including only sounds may coexist in the“NEW ARRIVAL” folder in the present embodiment, though, a proper mediaplayer mode corresponding to the kinds of the media files being playedcan be performed.

As described above, the speaker 20 can output the sounds of the mediafile being played or the media files stored in the “NEW ARRIVAL” folderwhen users set the media player 50 into the hollow portion 24 c of thetelevision 10. Further, in case these media files include both soundsand images, the images can be also displayed by the LCD panel 16 a ofthe television 10. The television 10 can not estimate when the mediaplayer 50 will finish playing the media file being played or all of themedia files stored in the “NEW ARRIVAL” folder when users set the mediaplayer 50 into the hollow portion 24 c of the television 10. In stepS220, the microcomputer 11 periodically performs a process to judgewhether the media player 50 is currently playing any of the media files.This process is similar to that performed in step S150.

In case the microcomputer 11 detects that the media player 50 is notplaying any of the media files, it can be considered that the mediaplayer 50 have finished playing all of the media files that have to beplayed. Then, the microcomputer 11 terminates the media player mode α orthe media player mode β (returns to the normal mode) and themicrocomputer 11 terminates this process. For example, the microcomputer11 controls the tuner 12 to receive a channel that was finally receivedbefore the television 10 switched to the media player mode α (in stepS170) or the media player mode β (in step S180). The microcomputer 11can specify the channel that was finally received, because the last flag(illustrated as the triangular outline dot) was appended to the channelthat was finally received. On the other hand, in case the microcomputer11 detects that the media player 50 is currently playing any of themedia files, the microcomputer 11 returns to step S160. That is, themicrocomputer 11 detects what types of the media files is currentlyplayed by the media player 50 (the microcomputer 11 detects in whichplaying states B or C the media player 50 is) and the microcomputer 11performs to switch to the media player mode α or the media player mode βcorresponding to the media files currently played. As explained above,by periodically repeating steps from S150 to S230, the microcomputer 11can monitor a playing state of the media player 50 and the microcomputer11 can return to the normal mode when the media player 50 finish playingthe media files. Further, by periodically detecting what types of themedia files is currently played by the media player 50, the LCD panel 16a can display the dummy image according to the types of the media files.

C. A Process Performed After the Media Player is Connected

The process performed when (just after) the media player 50 is connectedto the television 10 is explained above, a process performed after themedia player 50 to the television 10 will be explained below. FIG. 8 isan exemplary flowchart of a monitoring charging process performed afterthe media player 50 to the television 10. In step S310, the chargingcircuit 17 b of the docking unit 17 periodically measures an amount ofcharge of the battery 54 in the media player 50 through the connectingterminal unit 17 d and the I/O terminal unit 59. And, in case the amountof charge is less than a predetermined threshold, the microcomputer 11makes the charging circuit 17 b perform to charge the battery 54 in stepS320. However, in case the charging switch 17 c is slid to the off-sidedirection, the power supply line is cut off. Therefore, in case thecharging switch 17 c is slid to the off-side direction, substantially,the charging the battery 54 can not be performed. On the other hand, theamount of charge is not less than the predetermined threshold, themicrocomputer 11 does not make the charging circuit 17 b perform tocharge the battery 54 and returns to step S310. The microcomputer 11 canalways judge whether the amount of charge of the battery 54 has reachedthe predetermined threshold and can stop charging that is started whenthe media player 50 is connected to the television 10 (in step S110),because the monitoring charging process described above is periodicallyperformed while the media player 50 is connected to the television 10.Therefore, futile electricity consumption can be prevented. Further, thecharging can be also started, in case users slide the charging switch 17c to the on-side direction after the media player 50 is connected to thetelevision 10 and the amount of the charge is not less than thepredetermined threshold. In addition, timings to perform this monitoringcharging process can be determined based on elapsed time from startingto charge.

By the way, users may want to make the media player 50 play the mediafiles even if the media player 50 did not play the media files when themedia player 50 is connected the television 10 and only charging isperformed at the beginning. Therefore, the microcomputer 11 of thetelevision 10 performs a playing state monitoring process explainedbelow. FIG. 9 is an exemplary flowchart of the playing state monitoringprocess to monitor the playing state of the media player 50. Accordingto FIG. 9, steps same as the steps from S150 to S220 of the connectingprocess illustrated in FIG. 4 are performed. The playing statemonitoring process is periodically performed after the connectingprocess is terminated. In addition, the connecting process is terminatedwith returning from the media player modes to the normal mode in stepS230 or without switching to the media player modes in step S210.Therefore, the playing state monitoring process is performed while thetelevision 10 does not perform the media player modes (i.e. thetelevision 10 performs the normal mode.).

In steps S410 and S420 of the playing state monitoring process, themicrocomputer 11 detects in which the playing states from A to C (asfollows) the media player 50 is (a playing state detecting unit). Inaddition, explanations of processes performed in steps S410 and S420will be omitted, because the processes performed in steps S410 and S420are same as that performed in the connecting process illustrated in FIG.4.

A: None of the media files is played.

B: A media file (files) including sounds and images is (are) played.

C: A media file including only sounds is played.

In case, the microcomputer 11 detects that the media player 50 is in theplaying state A in step S410, the microcomputer 11 return tocontinuously monitor the playing states of the media player 50. In case,the microcomputer 11 detects that the media player 50 is in the playingstate B in step S420, the microcomputer 11, similarly to the connectingprocess (illustrated in FIG. 4), switches the television into the mediaplayer mode α in order to accept both the sound signals and the imagesignals from the media player 50.

And, in case, the microcomputer 11 detects that the media player 50 isin the playing state C in step S420, the microcomputer 11, similarly tosteps S180 of the connecting process (illustrated in FIG. 4), switchesthe television into the media player mode β in order to accept only thesound signals from the media player 50 and display the dummy image bythe LCD panel 16 a. Accordingly, the television 10 can be automaticallyswitched into the media player modes α or β by making the media player50 play any of the media files after connecting to the media player 50and the television 10. In addition, the television 10 can be switched tothe media player modes α and β, because the media player modes α or βshould be added to the channel map CM, in advance, in the connectingprocess (illustrated in FIG. 4).

In step S450, in step S450, the microcomputer 11 periodically performs aprocess similar to steps S220 of the connecting process (illustrated inFIG. 4), to judge whether the media player 50 is currently playing anyof the media files. In case the microcomputer 11 detects that the mediaplayer 50 is not playing any of the media files, it can be consideredthat the media player 50 have finished playing all of the media filesthat have to be played. Then, the microcomputer 11 terminates the mediaplayer mode α or the media player mode β (returns to the normal mode).On the other hand, in case the microcomputer 11 detects that the mediaplayer 50 is currently playing any of the media files, the microcomputer11 returns to step S420. That is, the microcomputer 11 detects whattypes of the media files is currently played by the media player 50 (themicrocomputer 11 detects in which playing states B or C the media player50 is) and the microcomputer 11 performs to switch to the media playermode α or the media player mode β corresponding to the media filescurrently played. Accordingly, the microcomputer can switch to one ofthe media player modes α and β that is suitable to the kind of the mediafile currently played.

As explained above, the television 10 can be cooperated with the mediaplayer 50, by connecting the media player 50 to the television 10. Thetelevision 10 can use functions of the media player 50 by givingoperations to the television 10. FIG. 10 is an exemplary flowchart of amonitoring remote control operation process. According to FIG. 10, themicrocomputer detects inputting predetermined signals from the remotecontrol receiver 18, in step S500. These predetermined signals meansignals generated by the remote control receiver 18 in response toreceiving a pulse of infrared transmitted by pushing a “slide show andaudio” button of a remote control (not illustrated). Therefore, themicrocomputer judges whether the “slide show and audio” of the remotecontrol is pushed.

In case the “slide show and audio” button formed on the remote controlis not pushed, the microcomputer 10 return to steps S500 to repeat sameprocess. On the other hand, in case the “slide show and audio” of theremote control is pushed, the microcomputer 11 generates the operationcommands same as the operation commands generated by the operation panel57 in response to the user's consecutive operations from [1] to [8] asdescribed below. And the microcomputer 11 transmits the operationcommands to the CPU 51 a.

-   -   [1] M button→[2] D button→[3] D button→    -   [4] R button→[5] P button→[6] M button→    -   [7] R button→[8] P button        Then the media player 50 performs consecutive operations        complying with the operation commands.

That is, first, the media player 50 can returns to a determinate state(i.e. the main menu) from arbitrary states set by users, by transmittingthe operation command corresponding to the operation [1]. In addition,if the media player 50 has been turned off, the media player 50 isturned on by the command corresponding to the operation [1]. Next, a“PICTURE” folder is selected by moving downward twice in the main menuaccording to the commands corresponding to the operations [2] and [3].Further, the media player 50 moves to lower class of the “PICTURE”folder and selects a “FABRITE” folder that is top of this class,according to the operation command corresponding to the operation [4].

Next, by transmitting the operation command corresponding the operation[5], a slide show is performed with sequentially displaying every imagefiles stored in the “FABRITE” folder. In addition, the image files are,for example, image data that show pictures shot by digital stillcameras. Further, the media player 50 again returns to the main menu bytransmitting the operation command corresponding to the operation [6].Then the “AUDIO” folder that is top of the main menu is selected. Next a“FAVORITE” folder that is top of the “AUDIO” folder is selectedaccording to the operation command corresponding to the operation [7].Further, every audio files stored in the “FAVORITE” folder of the“AUDIO” folder, are sequentially played, by transmitting the operationcommand corresponding to the operation [8] instructing to play.

The operation commands corresponding to the operations from [1] to [8]are the operation macro, and complicated manipulations for the operationpanel 57 of the media player 50 can be replaced to the pushing the“slide show and audio” button of the remote control. By performing stepS510, the image according to the pictures can be sequentially displayedin the LCD display 53 of the media player 50. Stimulatingly, the soundaccording to the audio files can be output by the sound output unit 55of the media 50. Further, these sound signals according to the picturesand the audio files according to the audio files can be output throughthe I/O terminal unit 59, and these sound signals and the audio filesare input to the television 10 connected to the I/O terminal unit 59.Accordingly, the media player plays the media files including sounds andimages, therefore, the microcomputer 11 of the television 10 switches tothe media player mode α because this playing state is detected in theplaying state monitoring process. Then, the sound signals and the imagesignals are input to the sound processing circuit 14 and the imageprocessing circuit 13 and the speaker 20 and are output from the LCDpanel 16 a of the television 10. Therefore, users can appreciatefavorite music and pictures by the television 10.

D. A Process Performed when the Media Player is Disconnected

FIG. 11 is an exemplary flowchart of a process performed when the mediaplayer 50 is detached from the television 10. The process illustrated inFIG. 11 is performed when the bottom edge of the media player 50 isdetached from the hollow portion 24 c of the television 10. First, insteps S600, the microcomputer 11 detects that the media player 50 isdetached from the hollow portion 24 c and waits until the media player50 is detached from the hollow portion 24 c (disconnection detectingunit). As a method for detecting a disconnection of the bottom edge ofthe media player 50 from the hollow portion 24 c, for example, a methoddetecting a change of resistance of the connecting terminal unit 17 dthat is affected by an electrical disconnection between the connectingterminal unit 17 d and the I/O terminal unit 59 of the media player 50,can be applied. Further, a method using a mechanical switch operated bydetaching the bottom edge of the media player 50 from the hollow portion24 c, can be also applied.

In case the disconnection between the television 10 and the media player50 is detected, the microcomputer 11 performs to read the channel map CMfrom the ROM 11 c and to append the disabling flags (illustrated assolid dots) to the media player modes α and β in the channel map CM(disabling unit). The media player modes α and β are channels that areenabled only if the media player 50 is connected to the television 10and the media player modes α and β does not exist as effective channelswhen the media player 50 is not connected to the television 10.Therefore, it is possible to prevent the television 10 from beingswitched to the media player modes α and β, in case the media player 50is not connected to the television 10.

FIG. 12 is an exemplary schematic diagram explaining switching orderswhen channel up-down operations are accepted in each of a state S1 (thetelevision 10 and the media player 50 are connected) and a state S2 (thetelevision 10 and the media player 50 are disconnected). The channels(modes) defined in the channel map CM are orderly switched according tothe channel up-down operations input by the remote control (arbitrarilyswitching unit). Therefore, the television 10 can be switched into boththe media player modes α and β in the state S1 that the media playermodes α and β are enabled in the channel map CM. On the other hand, themedia player modes α and β are skipped and the television 10 can not beswitched into neither the media player modes α nor β in the state S2that the media player modes α and β are disabled in the channel map CM.Consequently, it is possible to prevent the television 10 from beingswitched into the media player modes α and β and from being non (imageand sound)-signals input state.

E. Modified Embodiments E-1. The Modified Embodiment of the Dummy Image

In the embodiment described above, in case the media player 50 plays themedia files only including sounds, the dummy image based on the OSDsignals generated by the microcomputer 11 is output by the LCD panel 16a. This dummy image should, at least, make the television 10 notifyusers of that the media player 50 is functioning well, and this dummyimage should not limited to that illustrated in FIG. 6. For example, thedummy image can function as a screen saver by periodically movingletters of the dummy image illustrated in FIG. 6. For example, in casethe present invention applied to a plasma display panel, it ispreferable to apply the dummy image with the screen saver function.

Further, an entertainment function can be added to the dummy image inorder not to bore users when the television 10 output only the soundsignals from the media player 50. For example, the dummy image can be aslide show of pictures based on image files stored in the ROM 11 c ofthe television 10. The OSD signals to display the slide show aregenerated by the microcomputer 11. Further, in case the television 10has a memory card slot, a HDD and optical disk drive, the image filesfor the slide show can be stored in them. For example, users can watchthe slide show of favorite pictures and listen sounds from the mediaplayer 50 by inserting a memory card storing the favorite pictures intothe memory card slot.

Further, the dummy image should not limited to be completely generatedby the microcomputer 11, and the dummy image can be generated bycombining the OSD signals generated by the microcomputer 11 and imagesignals coming from other input sources. For example, the dummy imagecan be generated by combining the OSD signals generated by themicrocomputer 11 and the image signals based on the televisionbroadcasting signals received by the tuner 12. For example, users canwatch a television channel such as a sport channel that has lessimportance of sounds, with listening sounds from the media player 50. Bydisplaying the television channel with the message notifying that thetelevision 10 is outputting the sound signals coming from the mediaplayer 50, it can be prevent users from misunderstanding that thetelevision 10 is out of order. Further, as concrete method for combiningthe image signals based on the television broadcasting signal and theODS signals, they can be superimposed in a common area and each of themcan be displayed in divided areas of the LCD panel 16 a.

E-2. A Power Saving Operation

In the embodiment described above, the dummy image is displayed in casethe media player 50 outputs only sound signals to the television 10 (theplaying state C is detected), the dummy image don't have to be displayedin view of power saving. FIG. 13 is an exemplary flowchart of theconnecting process of a modified embodiment. The connecting process ofthis embodiment is almost same as the connecting process the formerembodiment (FIG. 4). However, the process (corresponding to step S180 ofthe former embodiment) for switching the television 10 to the mediaplayer mode β if the media player 50 plays the media files onlyincluding sounds, are different from that of the former embodiment. Inthis embodiment, processes of step S180A and S180B are performed insteadof the process corresponding to step S180. In step S180A, themicrocomputer 11 performs to switch the television 10 to the mediaplayer mode β, similarly to step S180 of the former embodiment.Stimulatingly, the microcomputer 11 generates OSD signals and output thedummy image.

FIG. 14 is an exemplary diagram showing the dummy image of this modifiedembodiment. As illustrated, a massage indicating “The media player 50 isonly outputting sounds. So the back light will be turned of in a severalseconds.” is displayed in the dummy image. Next, step S180B isperformed, after the dummy image is displayed. In step S180B, themicrocomputer 11 instructs the power circuit 21 to stop to supply theinverter circuit 16 d. Accordingly, the back light is turned off, andthe power consumption can be decreased. Further, it is possible toprevent users from misunderstanding that the television 10 is out oforder by notifying users of an extinction of the back light, in advance.In addition, the back light is turned off after the dummy image is oncedisplayed in this embodiment, though the back light can be immediatelyturned off when the microcomputer 11 detects that the media player 50plays the media files only including sounds.

E-3. The Modified Embodiment of Charging

FIG. 15 is an exemplary flowchart of charge setting process of themodified embodiment. In FIG. 15, the microcomputer 11 judges whetherpredetermined signals are input from the remote control receiver 18 instep S700. These predetermined signals mean signals generated by theremote control receiver 18 in response to receiving a pulse of infraredtransmitted by pushing a “charge setting” button of a remote control(not illustrated). In case, the microcomputer 11 detects that the“charge setting” button is pushed in step S700, the microcomputer 11generates predetermined OSD signals and displays a UI image for thecharge setting based on the OSD signals in step S710. Next, themicrocomputer 11 accepts user's operation to the remote control inresponse to the UI image for the charge setting.

FIG. 16 is an exemplary diagram of the UI image for the charge setting.According to FIG. 16, check boxes to select ON/OFF of a function forpreventing memory effect problem are provided in the UI image for thecharge setting. In case, ON is selected, the amount of charge to startcharging can be specified by a concrete numeric value. Further, theamount of charge to finish charging can be specified by a concretenumeric value. In step S720, the microcomputer 11 accepts signalscorresponding to user's operation to the remote control in response tothe UI image for the charge setting from the remote control receiver 18,and the microcomputer 11 the UI image for the charge setting based onthe signals from the remote control receiver 18.

In step S730, the microcomputer 11 judges whether signals correspondingto user's operation pushing a “determination button” provided in theremote control (not illustrated), are input. In case, these signals areinput, the numeric values specifying the amount of charge to startcharging and the amount of charge to finish charging based on user'soperation are acquired by the microcomputer 11, in step S740. In case,OFF is selected, the microcomputer 11 sets a start value (a lower limit)as 0% and sets a finish value (an upper limit) as 100%. In case, ON isselected, the microcomputer 11 sets the start value as the numeric valuespecifying the amount of charge to start charging and sets the finishvalue as the numeric value specifying the amount of charge to finishcharging. The start value and the finish value set by the microcomputerare written to the ROM 11 c in step S750.

FIG. 17 is an exemplary flowchart of the monitoring charging process ofthe modified embodiment. The monitoring charging process of thisembodiment is almost same as that of the former embodiment (illustratedin FIG. 8), the monitoring charging process of this embodiment executesstep S320A as a replacement of step S320 of the former embodiment. Instep S320A, the microcomputer 11 reads the start value and the finishvalue from the ROM 11 c, and the microcomputer 11 judges whether theamount of charge of the battery 54 measured in step S310 is between thestart value and the finish value.

In case, the amount of charge of the battery 54 is between the startvalue and the finish value, the microcomputer 11 makes the chargingcircuit 17 b charge the battery 54. On the other hand, the amount ofcharge of the battery 54 is not between the start value and the finishvalue, the microcomputer 11 does not make the charging circuit 17 bcharge the battery 54 and returns to step S300. Accordingly, user canarbitrarily adjust the amount of charge to finish charging. Therefore,just necessary amount can be charged. Further, user can arbitrarilyadjust the amount of charge to start charging. For example, it can bepossible to prevent the charging circuit 17 b from charging until fullydischarge (the amount of charge becomes substantially 0%). Therefore, itcan be possible to prevent the memory effect problem. In addition, acondition to finish charging is designated by the amount of charge,though the condition to finish charging can be designated by a chargingtime. In addition, in case OFF is selected, the amount of charge of thebattery 54 is always between the start value (0%) and the finish value(100%). In this circumstance, the microcomputer 11 always makes thecharging circuit 17 b charge the battery 54. In addition, user canrestrict not to perform to charge by designating the amount of charge tostart charging same as the amount of charge to finish charging, even ifthe charging switch 17 c is slid to the on-side direction (chargepreventing unit).

E-4. The Modified Embodiment of an Operation Macro

In the embodiment described above, in case the media player 50 does notplay any of the media files when the media player 50 is connected to thetelevision 10, the microcomputer 11 outputs the operation macro to makethe media player 50 play media files stored in “NEW ARRIVAL” folder. Themicrocomputer 11 can also outputs the operation macro to make the mediaplayer 50 play media files stored in “NEW ARRIVAL” folder in response tothe user's operation to the remote control in the monitoring remotecontrol operation process (illustrated in FIG. 10). Further, theoperation macro can be edit by users. In the monitoring remote controloperation process, in case the “slide show and audio” of the remotecontrol is pushed, the microcomputer 11 generates the operation commandssame as the operation commands generated by the operation panel 57 inresponse to the user's consecutive operations from [1] to [8] asdescribed below.

-   -   [1] M button→[2] D button→[3] D button→    -   [4] R button→[5] P button→[6] M button→    -   [7] R button→[8] P button        For example, this operation macro can be edited by users.

FIG. 18 is an exemplary diagram showing a UI image for edition theoperation macro: This UI image is displayed by the LCD panel 16 aaccording to the ODS signals generated by the microcomputer 11 inresponse to a predetermined operation to the remote control. In this UIimage, a folder tree image E1 to select a folder storing the image filesto be slid according to the operation macro is provided. And, anotherfolder tree image E2 to select a folder storing the sound files to beplayed according to the operation macro is provided. The microcomputer11 can display these folder tree images E1 and E2 by asking the O/Sexecuted by the media player 50 a folder (menu) structure of the HDD 51d in advance. User can select and determine the folder storing the imagefiles that users want to slide and the folder storing the sound filesthat users want to play in the folder tree images E1 and E2.

In addition, the folders selected in the folder tree images E1 and E2are expressed as selection folders F1 and F2. After determination of theselection folders F1 and F2, the microcomputer 11 specifies operationsnecessary to move from the “AUDIO” folder that is top of the main menuillustrated in FIG. 7 to each of the selection folders F1 and F2. Andthe operation macro corresponding to specified operations is set by themicrocomputer 11. For example, in case the selection folders F1 is a“TRAVEL” folder that is included in the “PICTURE” folder and is lowerthan the “FABRITE” folder that is top of the folders included in the“PICTURE” folder by two folders, the operation macro corresponding tothe user's consecutive operations from [1] to [7] as described below isset by the microcomputer 11.

-   -   [1] M button→[2] D button→[3] D button→    -   [4] R button→[5] D button→[6] D button→    -   [7] P button        For example, in case the selection folders F2 is a “MUSICS FOR        DRIVE” folder that is included in the “AUDIO” folder and is        below the “FABRITE” folder that is top of the folders included        in the “PICTURE” folder, the operation macro corresponding to        the user's consecutive operations from [8] to [11] as described        below is additionally set by the microcomputer 11, this        operation macro is followed by the operation macro corresponding        to the user's consecutive operations from [1] to [7] as        described above.    -   [1] M button→[2] D button→[3] D button→    -   [4] R button→[5] D button→[6] D button→    -   [7] P button→    -   [8] M button→[9] R button→[10] D button→    -   [11] P button        This operation macro is recorded in the ROM 11 c. And, in case        the “slide show and audio” button is manipulated, the        microcomputer 11 reads the operation macro and transmits the        operation to the CPU 51 a of the media player 50. Accordingly,        the image files and the audio files belonging to the selection        folders F1 and F2 selected by users can be slid and played.

In the embodiment described above, users can edit a part of theoperation macro, that is user can select the selection folders F1 and F2including the media files to be slid and played. Further, user canarbitrarily edit entire of the operation macro. For example, the remotecontrol has an operation macro recording start button, an operationmacro recording end button and a user's operation macro executingbutton. And, the micro computer communicates with the CPU 51 a of themedia player 50 in order to acquire operation commands received from theoperation panel 57 during a time before the operation macro recordingend button is pushed and after the operation macro recording startbutton is pushed. And, the micro computer 11 organizes the operationcommands and stores them as a user's operation macro in the ROM 11 c.Further, users can execute the user's operation macro by manipulatingthe user's operation macro executing button.

According to this embodiment, a complicated operation commandsconsisting of [1] to [9] described blow, can be easily executed byrecoding the user's operation macro in advance.

-   -   [1] M button→[2] D button→[3] D button→    -   [4] D button→[5] D button→[6] R button→    -   [7] R button→[8] D button→[9] P button        According to this user's operation macro, finally, a reset can        be executed with orderly moving items of the operation menu. The        media player 50 applying the tree folder (menu) structure        requires many operations to reach an objective item (reset),        though the reset can be easily executed by executing the user's        operation macro.

E-5. The Modified Embodiment of a Connection

Further, a position of the television where the media player 50 is heldshould not be limited to the position illustrated in FIG. 2. That is,the connecting terminal unit 17 d can be provided other positions,unless the media player 50 is unsteadily held to be charged. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 19, the hollow portion 24 c hollowingbackward is formed on a position of the brace 24 b where is lower then alower edge of the LCD panel 16 a. And the bottom edge of the mediaplayer 50 is inserted backward into the hollow portion 24 c. In thiscase, the media player 50 can be horizontally held. Further, asillustrated in FIG. 20, the hollow portion 24 c hollowing downward isformed on a top plane of a flame of the LCD panel 16 a. And the mediaplayer 50 can be vertically inserted to the hollow portion 24 c.

The television of the present invention includes a speaker; a display; atuner for receiving television broadcasting signals and generates firstsound signals and first image signals based on the televisionbroadcasting signals; a connecting terminal for connecting to a playerdevice having an operation panel generating operation commands accordingto user's operations; an operation macro outputting unit for outputtingan operation macro same as a plurality of the operation commands to theplayer device in order to make the player device perform consecutiveoperations, through the connecting terminal.

According to this configuration, the operation macro outputting unitoutputs the operation macro same as a plurality of the operationcommands to the player device in order to make the player device performconsecutive operations, through the connecting terminal. Therefore, thetelevision that can easily make the player device perform theconsecutive operations corresponding to a complicated user's operationsfor the operation panel, can be provided. Each of the operation commandsis a command generated in response to each of the user's operations forthe operation panel.

Further, as a particular aspect of the present invention, the operationmacro outputting unit outputs the operation macro to make the playerdevice select the media file to play and play the media file selected.

According to this configuration, the player device performs theconsecutive operations to select the media file to play and to play themedia file selected, according to the operation macro. Accordingly, itis possible to make the player device play a specific media file.

As another particular aspect of the present invention, the operationmacro outputting unit outputs the operation macro to make the playerdevice select the media file that was stored in the media player laterthan a predetermined time.

According to this configuration, the player device performs theconsecutive operations to select the media file that was stored in themedia player later than a predetermined time and to play the media fileselected, according to the operation macro. Accordingly, it is possibleto make the player device play a specific media file.

As an optional particular aspect of the present invention, the operationmacro outputting unit outputs the operation macro to make the playerdevice select image files of the media file and perform a slide show ofthe image files selected.

According to this configuration, the player device performs theconsecutive operations to select image files of the media file and toperform a slide show of the image files selected, according to theoperation macro. Accordingly, it is possible to make the player deviceperform the slide show.

As further particular aspects of the present invention, the televisionfurther comprises a switching unit for switching the television from anormal mode that each of the speaker and the display outputs each of thefirst sound signals and the first image signals to a player device modethat at least one of the speaker and the display outputs one of thesecond sound signals and the second image signals, when the playerdevice is connected to the connecting terminal.

According to this configuration, the switching unit switches thetelevision from a normal mode that each of the speaker and the displayoutputs each of the first sound signals and the first image signals to aplayer device mode that at least one of the speaker and the displayoutputs one of the second sound signals and the second image signals,when the player device is connected to the connecting terminal.

Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the abovementioned embodiment. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art,the following may be disclosed as exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention:

To use members, structures, and the like disclosed in the aboveembodiment replaceable with each other by properly changing theircombination.

To use what are not disclosed in the above embodiment but are of knownart and replaceable with the members, structures, and the like disclosedin the above embodiment by properly replacing them with each other or bychanging their combination.

To properly use members, structures, and the like not disclosed in theabove embodiment but thought of by those skilled in the art assubstitutes for them on the basis of known art and the like or, further,with changes made in their combination.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withrespect to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood bythose skilled in the art that the forgoing and other changes in form anddetail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail inlanguage specific to structural features or method acts, it is to beunderstood that the invention defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather,the specific features and acts are disclosed as preferred forms ofimplementing the claimed invention. Therefore, while exemplaryillustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerousvariations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled inthe art. Such variations and alternate embodiments are contemplated, andcan be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employedherein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description andshould not be regarded as limiting.

It should further be noted that throughout the entire disclosure, thelabels such as left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse,clockwise, counter clockwise, up, down, or other similar terms such asupper, lower, aft, fore, vertical, horizontal, proximal, distal, etc.have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended toimply any particular fixed direction or orientation. Instead, they areused to reflect relative locations and/or directions/orientationsbetween various portions of an object.

In addition, reference to “first,” “second,” “third,” and etc. membersthroughout the disclosure (and in particular, claims) is not used toshow a serial or numerical limitation but instead is used to distinguishor identify the various members of the group.

What is claimed is:
 1. A television, comprising: a speaker; a display; atuner for receiving television broadcasting signals and for generatingfirst sound signals and first image signals based on the televisionbroadcasting signals; a connecting terminal for connecting thetelevision and a player device having an operation panel generatingoperation commands according to user's operations; an operation macrooutputting unit for generating an operation macro including a pluralityof command having functionality commensurate with the operationcommands, the generated operation macro includes at least a firstcommand for returning to a main menu of operation menus of the playerdevice, a second command for shifting a selected item in a same class ofthe operation menus, a third command for moving to lower class of theoperation menus and a fourth command for playing a selected item, andfor outputting the generated operation macro to the player device inorder to make the player device perform consecutive operations based onthe generated operation macro, through the connecting terminal.
 2. Atelevision as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the operation macrooutputting unit outputs the generated operation macro to make the playerdevice select a media file to play and play the media file selected. 3.A television as set forth in claim 2, wherein: the operation macrooutputting unit outputs the generated operation macro to make the playerdevice select the media file that was stored in the media player laterthan a predetermined time.
 4. A television as set forth in claim 1,wherein: the operation macro outputting unit outputs the generatedoperation macro to make the player device select image files of themedia file and perform a slide show of the image files selected.
 5. Atelevision as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a switching unitfor switching the television from a normal mode that each of the speakerand the display outputs each of the first sound signals and the firstimage signals to a player device mode that at least one of the speakerand the display outputs one of the second sound signals and the secondimage signals, when the player device is connected to the connectingterminal.
 6. A television, comprising: a speaker; a display; a tuner forreceiving television broadcasting signals and for generating first audiosignals and first image signals based on the television broadcastingsignals; a connecting terminal for connecting the television and aplayer device having an operation panel generating operation commandsaccording to user's operations; a detecting unit for detecting whetherthe player device is currently playing any media files; an operationmacro outputting unit for generating an operation macro including aplurality of command having functionality commensurate with theoperation commands and for outputting the generated operation macro tothe player device through the connecting terminal, when the detectingunit detects that the player device is not playing any media filescurrently, the operation macro outputting unit generates the operationmacro including at least a first command for returning to a main menu ofoperation menus of the player device, a second command for shifting aselected item in a same class of the operation menus, a third commandfor moving to lower class of the operation menus and a fourth commandfor playing a selected media file, and outputs the generated operationmacro to the player device in order to make the player device select daythe selected media file based on the generated operation macro; and aswitching unit for switching the television from a normal mode where thespeaker outputs the first audio signals and the display outputs thefirst image signals to a player device mode where at least one of thespeaker and the display outputs one of second audio signals and secondimage signals based on the media file played by the player device, whenthe player device is playing the selected media file.